#passes the time nicely through this thunderstorms because i can't sleep with the thunder being this loud

[tjerra14]

obligatory Aloy+Ikrie ask just in case nobody asks for it (bc you know I wanna hear your thoughts)

Lou, would you be surprised if I told you that I hit the reblog on that post thinking “hmmm, Lou would probably like to hear my thoughts on this”, so I am very glad that you asked

I’ll be trying to keep this short-ish but you know I’m slightly obsessed with them, so--

Who is more likely to hurt the other? Aloy. Not intentionally, of course--but her habits, especially her constant leaving, and her silent assuming of things that Ikrie doesn’t take for granted, are likely to cause pain she never even considered. In addition, Ikrie isn’t one to voice her wants and needs, always keeping herself back as to not impose, and prone to assume the worst, so it’s a learning process for both.

Who is emotionally stronger? Neither of them, I’d say. They can both take a lot, force themselves to take a lot, trying to keep it together for themselves and for another, push on because they feel they need to. So if one of them breaks, it’s a lot. Who is physically stronger? Ikrie, no question. Bench-presses Aloy for fun. She might be of a similar height as Aloy (Certified Smol), but comes with increased density. Who is more likely to break a bone? They take turns. Last time was Ikrie’s, so I guess Aloy should beware of slippery glaciers? Who knows best what to say to upset the other? They’re both pretty capable of upsetting one another, intentionally or unintentionally, but Ikrie’s tendency to blurt out her thoughts and convictions, especially when her emotions are boiling over, puts her at an advantage at that. And faced with Aloy’s inherent stubbornness, she’s likely to be brutally honest, no prisoners taken. Who is most likely to apologise first after an argument? Weeelll.... funny thing, actually. I’ve been playing through a few scenes to that end in my head and it always ended up with both of them apologising at the same time. Who treats who’s wounds more often? They’re pretty adept at treating each other’s wounds, and sometimes have to do that after the very same fight. You annoy machines for fun, you get what you signed up for. Who is in constant need of comfort? ...Ikrie. Both. Both, but Ikrie. Listen, they find comfort in each other because they understand the other’s struggle with identity and not-belonging and loneliness and-- Who gets more jealous? I’m not entirely sure either of them fully grasps the concept of jealousy. Aloy doesn’t strike me as a particularly jealous person, and Ikrie... Well, Ikrie would probably rather assume she just wasn’t good enough, resign and explore the endless abyss of self-deprecation than be jealous.

Who’s most likely to walk out on the other? Ikrie, in the pursuit of distance, quiet, cold air and a hunt to clear her head. Who will propose? This is five miles deep into my personal headcanons and fics, but in a way, Aloy did already propose. (As much as you can call it that.) While thinking about the significance of Bluegleam for the Banuk, and gift-giving as a show of appreciation/ritual of courtship, I grew fond of the concept of the value of the gift being representative of importance the giving party regards the relationship with. What determines the value of a gift differs on the occasion and the people involved, but considering Bluegleam seems to have spiritual importance from how the Banuk talk about it in Frozen Wilds, and how difficult it seems to be to obtain it (there’s the Stormbird shrine at the end of the Shaman’s Path, which is “meant to be an ordeal” according to Naltuk; and Aloy regularly goes mountain-goating across the map to collect her crystals); I figured it would be very much up there where gifts are concerned. A lasting promise, even if I don’t think Banuk marry in a stricter sense but establish partnerships. So when I had her giving Ikrie a piece of Bluegleam because “it always seemed to belong to her”, that was, to Ikrie and unbeknownst to Aloy, entering such a partnership. Outside of that, you can’t catch either of them proposing, I’m sorry. Who has the most difficult parents? Ikrie’s parents dropped her off at a Banuk Baby Hatch shortly after her birth, does that qualify as difficult? Other than that, both of them suffer the No Family Allowed-Curse Horizon likes to inflict on its characters so much, so they can avoid all difficult parental relationship other than struggling with their absence. Who initiates hand-holding when they’re out in public? They’re not much for hand-holding (especially since those hands are usually busy with climbing or weapons or just gesturing excitedly as they tell each other stories), but Aloy’s far more likely to brush against Ikrie’s hand or take and squeeze it shortly when she notices her being somewhat hesitant and unsure. Or just because she can. Who comes up for the other all the time? I’d be lying if I said I understood this question. Who hogs the blankets? Ikrie. It’s a bad habit and Aloy’s the one much more prone to freezing even in a more temperate climate, but well. Many blankets and a fire were crucial for survival in Ban-Ur, so she still does it. Should they actually be in colder areas, they usually have enough for both of them on hand and share warmth whenever possible. However, both are ridiculously restless sleepers, so it’s not always a nice, refreshing experience.

Who gets more sad? Sad? No one’s even marginally sad. What do you mean you can sometimes find one of them sitting alone on a rock overlooking a lake or meadow or entire valley staring into the middle distance with a weird shadow on their expression? Who is better at cheering the other up? Definitely Ikrie. She’s practised in that. Mailen used to get sad from time to time and since she didn’t know how to deal with that, she resorted to what she always felt was fun: hunting, or a new challenge. It always worked. It also works on Aloy. Who’s the one that playfully slaps the other all the time after they make silly jokes? Ikrie ended up with a Slap Subscription, but it’s her own damn fault. Aloy lives for her smirks and smugness and carefree laughter when she dodges her hand, though. Who is more streetwise? Ikrie’s grown up with her tribe, and without parents. They may have taken care of her so she could survive but other than that it seems she was mostly left to roam free, and in doing so, picked up a bunch of tricks and skills Aloy, Rost-grown outcast, might be unfamiliar with. Who is more wise? Wisdom runs away screaming whenever one of them comes near. ...okay, that might not entirely be fair to them, but they’re young and reckless and impulsive and feral gremlins at that so wise decisions beyond basic survival skills happen less regularly than unwise ones. They’ll learn. Who’s the shyest? Depends on the situation. Surrounded by a large group of people? Ikrie, even if she does her best to not show it. In intimate settings, with each other? Aloy. Who boasts about the other more? Less boasting about the other as a person they’re with, but praising their skill--Ikrie would be insufferable in that. Aloy politely smiles, nods, and pulls her aside to tell her to tone it down a little, after all, she absolutely sucks with a sling, and-- Too late, the entirety of the Forbidden West now knows about that one time Aloy managed to topple over a Thunderjaw with a well-placed shock wave from her spear. Who sits on who’s lap? Depends on who sat down first. Although laps are less seats and more headrests.